Days passed like flowing sand. While Valentino poured all his effort into his next masterpiece, Benjamin finally returned home from his trip. Although with the help of the red beans he had been successful in convincing the managers to put Aquoria back into the markets, sales didn't really pick up yet. He went back to the company, pushing everyone to work on solutions. For Benjamin work never stopped. He went to the company early, returned late, and continued working at home. Some might consider his life unfulfilling but to this he would strongly disagree.
A week after returning home Benjamin finally found the time to visit the café again. He lamented in front of the barista, who listened quietly, perhaps nodding once or twice. Benjamin didn't mind. He didn't expect the barista to offer insightful advice.
When Benjamin left the café his two bodyguards were already waiting outside. Benjamin was becoming increasingly satisfied with them. No matter what they saw, they wouldn't ask any questions. And as far as Benjamin could tell they never mentioned anything to others.
"Let's go home."
"Yes, Sir."
The trio walked through the silent streets of the exhaust district. But when they reached the fenced-off parking lot, Benjamin stopped. His bodyguards instantly pulled their weapons, one of them shielding Benjamin behind him, while the other watched the surroundings.
The reason for their actions was the reappearance of a familiar face. Under the flickering light of an old lamp stood the gangster boss who had previously surrounded them with his gang. Dirty blond hair and torn clothes. Not someone Benjamin wished to get close to.
"Haha, friends, I am not here to harm you. No need to be like this, right?"
Benjamin could tell from the man's voice that while he tried to sound confident, he was in fact intimidated. The last meeting was certainly still in his mind. Glancing around Benjamin couldn't spot anyone else. He frowned, questioning in a low voice:
"What are you doing here? What do you want? If you are wasting my time, you better escape now or you won't get away so easy this time!"
Benjmain thought to notice a sneer on the man's face, but the bad light made it difficult to judge.
"Wasting your time? I am here to make you an offer in the name of some very… capable… people. You better don't think of chasing me away. For you, this offer presents a big chance."
"You? You're just a street rat. What people could you know?"
"Ha! Are you sure? Do you like my laser rifle, old man?"
Benjamin furrowed his brows, staring at the gangster. He still held onto the laser rifle he stole from the other. Such a formidable weapon shouldn't be in the hands of some street rats. Perhaps there was really someone behind him? But why would they support some minor gangster boss?
"Fine. Say what you have to say!"
"That's more like it. We have been observing you, Mister Bender. Why would a man of your status regularly come to the exhaust district?"
Benjamin's expression turned cold, an invisible pressure spreading from him. One of his bodyguards shook his weapon in a threatening gesture. The gangster boss felt his heart skip a beat, but he didn't show it in his voice.
"No need to get anxious. Anyways, with your watchdogs around we haven't figured anything out. However, there is something you can't hide. You are ageing. Rapidly. Far faster than you should. Don't you want to do something about that?"
"And you think you can help me with that?", asked Benjamin, his voice a threatening growl.
"Not me. But the people behind me."
"What gives you the confidence?!"
The gangster boss grinned as if he had been waiting for the question. He took a step forward, stepping into an area of better light. Ignoring the threatening looks he slowly raised both his hands.
Instantly Benjamin's pupils narrowed to needles. He still remembered how one of his bodyguards shot the gangster boss's hand. Such a severe injury would take at least half a year to heal, and the treatment was not something a lowly gangster boss should be able to afford. But now, how much time had passed? Two months? And the man's hand was perfectly fine.
If this were before, Benjamin would have tried to somehow rationalize it to himself. But since finding out about the café he knew that there existed other powers hidden beneath the surface. The occult was not only fantasy. There might be other organisations out there except for the café. However, did he want to come into contact with them? What if they were hostile to the Café of Dreams? Was there any danger?
The gangster boss observed Benjamin. As the other didn't instantly question or reject him, the gangster boss felt that he was on the right track. He could imagine what Benjamin was concerned about.
"Bender, no need to be worried. My boss wants to meet you at Hero's Square. Your bodyguards can come along."
"Your boss dares to openly appear in the city? Even on Hero's Square?"
"Hahaha, of course. What do you hold the boss for? Some kind of monster? A wanted criminal?"
Benjamin fell silent, even feeling a hint of embarrassment. He had indeed imagined some secretive organization only daring to operate from the shadows. Perhaps he had read too many rumours online.
"Alright. I agree. When should we meet?"
"Now."
"What?"
"You heard me. Come, open the parking lot. I'm coming with you."
Benjamin frowned. The other party was too confident. As if they never doubted, that he would come with them. He felt as if the situation was out of his control.
Although he was displeased, Benjamin went along with the gangster boss for now. They entered the flying car with the gangster boss sitting in front next to one of the bodyguards. They wouldn't allow him to sit next to Benjamin. During the drive Benjamin tried to fish for more information but other than the gangster's name, Louis, he didn't learn anything useful.
After a while the flying car came to a location close to the core city. There was a large tower with more than twenty stories serving as a parking house. Benjamin's bodyguard parked the car at the eighteenth floor. Their status wasn't high enough to enter the upper floors.
Usually, Benjamin would be displeased but at this moment his thoughts were elsewhere. He got out of the car and approached the glass wall, staring at the scene below. There was a platform at the height of the seventh floor, connected with the surrounding high-rise buildings through multiple bridges.
It was beautifully decorated with flowers and fountains, serving as a scenic park. At its centre was a tall statue depicting five people in heavy armour and with laser rifles in hand. Those were not people who had really lived. Instead, they represented the countless courageous soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in wars to safeguard the country.
Benjamin's father was also among them. Well, except for the part about sacrificing one's life. The old man came home alive and well, founding Aquoria afterwards.
Benjamin showed a light grin, speaking without turning back:
"You go down first, Louis. Find your boss and give me a sign. If I feel it is appropriate, I will follow you."
"You don't trust us?", snorted Louise.
"No."
"Ha! Fine. But my boss won't like that!"
Disgruntled, Louis didn't try to convince Benjamin. The latter could hear the footstep behind his back followed by the sound of an elevator. Soon, silence engulfed the tower. There were no cars coming or going on this floor. Even the large screens on the walls playing advertisements around the clock were muted.
Benjamin enjoyed the serene atmosphere as he observed Hero's Square. He had thought about this during the flight. From this position he could safely overview the square without directly facing the possible danger. Later he would decide according to his gut feeling if the square was secure enough or if there were any suspicious people lingering around.
"There he is."
Soon, Benjamin saw Louis approaching the square over a bridge. The gangster directly walked towards the centre and sat down below the statue. Benjamin frowned as he didn't see anyone else approach Louis.
"Fascinating, is it not?"
"What?!"
Benjamin turned around on the spot as a voice came from behind his back. He stared in shock at the person who had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Neither he nor his bodyguards noticed anything. Yet someone was standing only a few meters away. It was a man in casual business clothes. The rolled-up sleeves of his white shirt revealed muscular arms. His bald head and tattooed face gave him quite the frightening aura, which stood in stark contrast to his smiling face.
"Who are you?!"
"I am the one who has invited you here. You can call me Hallmaster Delta. Say, why don't you ask your friends to take down their weapons so we can have a nice chat?"
Benjamin somehow felt an extremely dangerous aura from the man. Even the presence of his two bodyguards didn't make him feel secure. How did the man appear? Had he been waiting here? Was it a show of power, of control? Benjamin glanced at his car, contemplating whether coming here was a bad idea.